As of March 1, 2023, Unanderra Family Doctors has a new fee schedule for all consultations, including telehealth appointments. This decision was not made lightly, as we are facing challenges such as a 10-year freeze in Medicare rebates and rising business costs. However, it is necessary for us to maintain financial stability in order to continue investing in the practice and improving the services we offer to our patients.
Please note that out-of-pocket fees will apply to all patients, including those with Pensioner Cards, and Healthcare Card status. We will be offering discounted fees for these card holders if you joined the clinic before 27 July 2022. Services that will continue to be bulk-billed include care plans, health assessments, COVID-19 vaccination, and flu vaccination if you are government eligible.
Standard consultation fees apply for patients where a bulk-bill or discounted consultation fees doesn’t apply.
Bulk-bill applies for
Discounted consultation fee applies if the patient joined the clinic before 27 July 2022 who are
| Medicare Item | Time with GP | Consultation Fee Payable At Consult | Medicare Rebate | Cost To Patient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 91891 |
< 20 Min | $70.00 | $39.75 | $30.25 |
| 36 | >= 20 Min | $130.00 | $76.95 | $53.05 |
| 44 | >= 40 Min | $194.00 | $113.30 | $80.70 |
| Medicare Item | Time with GP | Consultation Fee Payable At Consult | Medicare Rebate | Cost to Pensioner & Concession Card Holders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 91891 |
< 20 Min | $55.00 | $39.10 | $15.25 |
| 36 | >= 20 Min | $97.00 | $76.95 | $20.05 |
| 44 | >= 40 Min | $144.00 | $113.30 | $30.70 |
| Medicare Item | Time with GP | Consultation Fee Payable At Consult | Medicare Rebate | Cost To Patient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2715 | < 40 Min | $150.00 | $96.25 | $53.75 |
| 2717 | >= 40 Min | $222.00 | $141.80 | $80.20 |
| 2712 | >= 40 Min | $130.00 | $75.80 | $54.20 |
| Medicare Item | Consultation Fee Payable At Consult | Medicare Rebate | Cost To Patient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14206 Implanon Insertion | $76.00 | $32.05 | $43.95 |
| 30062 Implanon Removal | $108.00 | $46.95 | $53.40 |
| 30071 Punch Biopsy | $100.00 | $46.95 | $53.05 |
| 30219 Incision & Drainage | $78.00 | $24.60 | $53.40 |
| Iron Infusion | $190.00 | $79.70 | $110.30 |
Skin Excision Fee
A prior consultation is needed for the determination of the procedure requirements. Pricing for the procedure will be given at this consultation.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Cryotherapy | $10.00 |
| Dressing | $5.00 |
| Electrocautery | $10.00 |
| Electrocautery With Adrenaline | $25.00 |
| Electronic Medical Record Transfer | $40.00 |
| Excision | $45.00 |
| Implanon Insertion | $25.00 |
| Implanon Removal | $25.00 |
| Incision and Drainage | $25.00 |
| Intravenous Therapy – Fluids | $20.00 |
| IUD Removal | $10.00 |
| Nebuliser | $5.00 |
| Punch Biopsy | $25.00 |
| Punch Biopsy with Sutures | $45.00 |
| Spirometry | $20.00 |
| Wound Staple Removal | $10.00 |
| Wound Suturing | $45.00 |
| Wound Suturing Removal | $10.00 |
Non-attendance/Cancellation Fee
To avoid any cancellation fees, we ask that you provide at least 3 hours notice for any appointments. If you need to cancel or are unable to attend, please let us know by calling 0242716320, using our contact page on the website, or sending a text message to the mobile number you used to confirm the appointment. Cancellations within 3 hours or non-attendance will result in the following fees: $50 for a standard consultation and $70 for an extended consultation. If you have booked your appointment using HotDocs, please cancel the appointment through their service. Please note, this fee will need to be paid before your next consultation.
What happens if I request my medical records, I am changing my clinic?
When a patient requests their transfers their medical, Unanderra Family Doctors with contact you for the fee payable for the service of transferring your medical records. Generally, your new clinic will assist you with the request
Once the fee is paid by you, we will process the request, get your medical records to your new clinic and make your medical records inactive in our management system. If in the future you decide you’d like to use the services of Unanderra Family Doctors and you were paying the ‘Pensioner and Concession Patient Fees’ rates before we made your medical records inactive, you will be considered a new patient to Unanderra Family Doctors and we will charge you the ‘Standard Patient Fees’ rates.
Why is Unanderra Family Doctors charging for medical services?
At Unanderra Family Doctors, we strive to provide you with the highest quality healthcare services possible. Our dedicated team of doctors and staff work hard to ensure that your experience with us is a positive one.
Unfortunately, the cost of delivering quality medical care has been increasing over time, while the Medicare rebates provided by the government have not kept pace. This means that the reimbursement we receive from Medicare does not fully cover the cost of providing our services.
We understand that some patients may struggle to afford our fees, which is why we have chosen to set our fees lower than the current recommended fee schedule set by the Medical Association of Australia (AMA). Additionally, we will continue to bulk-bill all Care Plan and Health Assessment consultations for eligible patients of Medicare.
We want to assure you that if you do choose to leave our practice due to this change, we will offer a free electronic medical record transfer to the practice of your choice. Our reception team is also available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.
Rebates from Medicare
Typically, Medicare rebates are deposited into your designated bank account within 24 hours if you have a bank account setup with Medicare. If you are uncertain about the status of your linked bank account or need to make any changes, you can do so through the MyGov or Medicare Express app or calling Medicare on 132 011 and asking for an operator to assist with updating your stored bank account. Our reception team is available to assist you with this process if needed.
What if I need a form signed?
There may be a charge for certain forms that require a signature from your doctor or for certifying copies. Some forms, such as those required by government agencies, may be completed during a consultation and be eligible for a Medicare rebate. However, for forms that are not considered eligible by Medicare, such as those for visa purposes or certifying copies, there will be an additional fee. Please inform our reception team when booking an appointment if you will need your doctor to complete a form, and they will provide you with information about any associated fees and ensure that the necessary time is allocated for the task.
How do I pay the consultation fee?
All fees must be paid on the day of your consultation.
We accept a variety of payment methods, including cash, EFTPOS, Mastercard, and Visa.
Why is there a difference (Gap) between bulk-billing and your clinic fee?
The gap between the cost of providing quality healthcare and the reimbursement received through Medicare can be attributed to the fact that the cost of running a medical practice is constantly increasing. Utilities such as rent, electricity, insurance, specialized equipment, and technology all contribute to these rising costs. Additionally, the indexation of Medicare rebates has not kept pace with these increases, resulting in a decrease in the value of rebates over time. On average, the cost-of-living increases by 3.3% per year, while Medicare rebates only increase by 2.1% per year. This difference is commonly referred to as the “gap.” The illustration provided by the AMA below illustrates how the gap has widened over the last 30 years. Please note how the purple line is flat from 2014.
Should you require more information, one of our friendly customer care representative should be able to assist you. Feel free to make an appointment today and come into our Unanderra Doctor mixed billing GP surgery to discuss how we can help.
